In a move to reshape the economic landscape for small businesses across Northern Arizona, Growth Partners Arizona (GPAz), Moonshot AZ, and Local First Arizona have united to expand access to capital. This collaborative effort is part of a broader initiative launched by the State of Arizona, aiming to drive economic development, job creation and sustainability through the groundbreaking Microbusiness Loan Program. As a tangible demonstration of this commitment, GPAz recently announced the … [Read more...] about Partnership Expands Access to Capital for Northern Arizona’s Emerging Small Businesses
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Moonshot Invites Entrepreneurs to Pitch Their Ideas
Moonshot is looking for the innovator or entrepreneur with the next great idea. The 2024 Moonshot Rural Pitch Tour – an entrepreneurship contest similar to ABC’s “Shark Tank” – starts this month in Wickenburg. Pitch contests are scheduled in 16 cities across the state, reaching Flagstaff May 3 and 4, and culminating in Cottonwood with the final statewide competition in August. Last year, Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski and his wife, Ruth Ellen, made their pitch and won the statewide competition … [Read more...] about Moonshot Invites Entrepreneurs to Pitch Their Ideas
Buckle Up for 2024: Artificial Intelligence is Vastly Accelerating Small Business Efficiency
Wrapped in soft throws and sipping warm lattes, five women business owners gathered on overstuffed couches in a Charleston, South Carolina, beach house in October to mastermind strategies for overcoming challenges and positioning themselves for 2024. Their expertise spanned real estate, finance, marketing, business leadership and energy healing. Ideas were flowing like the gentle waves rolling to shore just outside the home. However, all motion stopped inside with the task of creating online … [Read more...] about Buckle Up for 2024: Artificial Intelligence is Vastly Accelerating Small Business Efficiency
Colleen Biggs Bets on Women to Lead
Colleen Biggs grew up like a lot of little girls, imagining the life she thought she was supposed to live, including a prince, a big Disney-esque wedding and a happily ever after. But with her parents’ divorce, she watched her mom’s world fall apart. For 12-year-old Colleen and her mom, life was a struggle. They survived on food stamps in rural Chandler in the 1970s. “It was interesting because it was a horse town then. People would ride their horses to grocery stores. You would smell manure … [Read more...] about Colleen Biggs Bets on Women to Lead
City Offering Competitive Grant Opportunity for Growing Small Businesses
The Business Retention and Expansion Incentive is a competitive grant program brought to Flagstaff businesses by your City Council and designed to help businesses grow in Flagstaff. Originally funded at $30,000, the program could award one business $30,000 or six businesses $5,000 each, or any variety in between. However, this year, the program is even bigger. The largest possible award is still $30,000, but this year, there could be two businesses awarded at the level! This is great news for … [Read more...] about City Offering Competitive Grant Opportunity for Growing Small Businesses
Restaurants Feeling Financial Relief
Business is improving at restaurants in Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona as we emerge from the pandemic, which has hit restaurants especially hard. In early May, Arizona Congressman Tom O’Halleran announced that the Small Business Administration’s $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund had begun accepting applications. Many restaurants in Central and Northern Arizona have either already received or applied for these funds. Priority for the first 21 days was given to restaurants owned … [Read more...] about Restaurants Feeling Financial Relief
Small Businesses Struggling with Labor Shortage
Restaurateur Paul Moir may well have summed up how small business owners are feeling: “The labor shortage is the cherry on top of what has been a very difficult year.” The co-owner of Brix and Proper Meats and Provisions and many other small business owners are reporting a similar challenging timeline through the past 15 months. Businesses were closed in March 2020. Some were able to adjust and open throughout the summer and fall with curbside service and strict social distancing guidelines. … [Read more...] about Small Businesses Struggling with Labor Shortage
5 Ways to Thank Your Local Small Business
In the middle of a pandemic that has taken so much from us, acts of celebration and sharing hold an even deeper significance. Although our holidays celebrations will look different this year, our values remain unchanged. This is a season of caring, a season of giving. We each look for ways to ease suffering and connect with our loved ones, even if over a computer screen. As we care for our neighbors by donating meals and gifts and prepare the same for our families, I urge you to make those … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Thank Your Local Small Business
Small Business Health Fair April 12
Often, small business owners and employees put all they have into keeping their businesses running and find themselves uninsured or underinsured. This may keep them from taking important preventive healthcare measures such as scheduling a yearly dental exam, blood work, mammogram or even an eye exam. To address this concern and offer health screenings to small businesses and their employees, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, North Country HealthCare and Mountain Heart are hosting the fifth … [Read more...] about Small Business Health Fair April 12
SCORE Sedona
Nov. 16 SCORE Counseling Sedona Chamber of Commerce between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. confidential business counseling from SCORE is available to any small business entrepreneur, whether just starting up a business or working to improve an existing small business. Offered at the Chamber of Commerce’s offices on the fourth Wednesday of each month, you canschedule a one-hour session on any topic of concern to you about your business. Call the Chamber at 204-1123 to schedule your appointment. … [Read more...] about SCORE Sedona
